Antipicking device



y 6, 1 953 c. J. ZURLO 2,639,691 I ANTIPICKING DEVICE Filed May 51, 1949 Inventor CHRL J. Z 01am (Ittomeg Patented May 26, 1953 UNITED STATE ANTIPICKING DEVICE Carl J. Zurlo, Marysville, Wash. Application May 21, 1949, Serial No. 96,221

1 Claim.

This invention relates to improvements in antipicking devices to be applied to chickens and other fowl. More particularly, the invention has reference to a device to be applied to the forward end of the beak of a chicken to prevent its injuring other fowls by picking and to prevent what is commonly referred to as cannibalism.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide an anti-picking device for the purposes above stated, that is simple both in its structure and manner of its application, and when applied, is extremely effective in producing the desired results, namely, preventing injury to chickens from picking and cannibalism;

Another object of this invention is to provide a device which is neither injurious when properly applied to the chicken, nor does it affect the chickens feeding or other normal habits of living.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide an anti-picking device which is not subject to being easily removed except by a person doing so intentionally.

A further object of this invention is to provide an efficient and effective device which is relatively inexpensive.

Other objects of this invention reside in the specific form or shape of the device and in its mode of application to a chickens beak, as will hereinafter be fully described.

In accomplishing the above mentioned and other objects of the invention, I have provided the improved details of construction, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a chickens head, showing the device embodied by the present invention, functionally applied to the end of the beak.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a blank of metal or other suitable material, from which the device of this invention is formed.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the blank after being cut to the specified shape, and before being bent to form.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the formed blank after being bent to a form ready for application to a chickens beak.

Fig. 5 is a top view of a part of a chickens head, with the present device applied to the beak.

Fig. 6 is a cross-section of the device as functionally secured to the upper mandible of a chickens beak and illustrating the manner of applying a pointed end portion thereof to the mucous membrane of the mandible.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the device, as seen from the forward side.

In. the past, various devices have been used,

and applied to chickens to prevent what is known as pick-out and cannibalism, which occurs especially when chickens are placed in pens or laying cages. One type of device is a plate suspended across the vent typified. by the ,patent to Gawiler, #2,086,6l2. Another type of device is in the nature of blinders or goggles, as shown in U. S. Patent No. 2,079,107, which are applied to the beak so that the chicken fitted therewith is unable to see as is required for pickingor fighting. These devices and various others have helped substantially in reducing the-injury to chickens and other fowl and in improving the laying production. However, ,such devices have certain inherent drawbacks and are therefore'not en tirely satisfactory.

The device of the present invention, designed to overcome previous disadvantages, is extremely simple in construction and manner of its application and has proven to be very satisfactory in preventing pick-out and cannibalism, without affecting the feeding or other activities of the chicken.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

In Fig. 2, I have illustrated a blank of material, designated by numeral I, from which the device is cut and formed. It is preferre that this blank be made from approximately 32 gauge aluminum;

however, if desired, it may be made from stainless steel, Monel metal, and various other materials of like character. The preferred dimensions of the blank for use on ordinary chickens are %t of an inch in length and 1% of an inch in width. These dimensions and the thickness of the blank may be altered as may be desired or required without departing from my invention.

In Fig. 3, I have illustrated the rectangular blank after being cut to the desired shape, but before bending. The opposite side edges are parallel and the end portions are out and shaped in a manner to provide a V-shaped point 4 at one end, and two laterally spaced V-points 5 and 6 at its other end. Between the points 4 and 5 is a V-shaped recess or notch 'i. All points are formed in the shape of outwardly extending isooeles triangles. The blank, after being so formed with points, is then bent, as along the lines 8 and 9 in Fig. 3, to that form in which it is shown best in Fig. 4, which shows opposite end portions of the blank to be bent to the same side of the body portion, with the points 5 and 6 directed downward toward the point 4, which is directed upward, leaving an open space between the upper and lower points for ease of application of the device to the end of a chickens beak,.

3 The body portion of the plate is given a gradual outward curve between the opposite end portions, as shown best in Fig. 5; this part being designated by numeral l 0.

With the device shaped and formed as hereinbefore described, it may easily and quickly be applied to the chickens beak 20, as is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 5. For its application, the device is grasped lengthwise, between the tongs .or g aws f a p i :of p iersorsi p :09 as iri ig tfld in Fig. 6, with the points 4, 5 and 6 extending outward therefrom and with the points 5 and -,6 above the point 4 for application to the chickens beak. With the chicken held securely, .the :device is applied over the nd of the upper mandible, designated in Fig. 6 by reference numeral 28a. Then by application of pressure, the points above and below the beak are pressed toward each other, causing the points 6 and 6 to engage the exterior top surface of the beak at opposite sides and the point 4 to penetrate upward'ly within the mucous membrane, 201), on the inside or under surface of the mandible. When so applied and secured to the beak, the exterior or forward surface of the plate angularly or cylindrically curved, as best illustrated in Fig. 6 or 7, to form a blunt guard or shield over the end of the beak. "The blunt exterior surface of the plate prevent the chicken from injuring other chickens with the sharp point of its beak. The, device may be readily removed if desired by bending the pron-ged upper end portion upwardly and away from the lower portion, to free the points 5 and -6, but it cannot be removed or become loose due to the normal activities of the chicken.

The device as herein described is illustrated in its preferred form and manner of application. However, it is not my intention to limit the invention to the specific details or shape shown, but rather that it may be formed in various sizes and shapes, and applied in other ways without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I g a a n w th a des re to ec y Lette Eaten" i An anti-picking device for application to the end of a chickens upper beak comprising a metal plate, the length of which is substantially twice the width and formed with a medial, rounded body portion, one end portion thereof disposed inwardly and tapered to a single M-shaped point and the other end portion dis- D'osed inwardly and formed with two laterally spaced, V-shaped points; said inwardly disposed pointed end portions being adapted to holdingly engage the chickens beak.

- CARL J. ZURLO.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 243,895 Hill July 5 1881 339,852 Caldwell 1-- Apr. 13, 1886 810,385 Bartlett Jan. 23, 1906 1,065,459 Madsen June 24, 1913 1,083,786 Young Jan. 6, 1914 1,637,564: Gillette Aug. 2, 1927 1,877,897 Kosten et all. Sept. 20, 1932 2,247,833 Butterfield July 1, 1941 2,453,270 Russell m Nov. 9, 1948 

